Browse plants / Proteaceae
Red silky oak Grevillea banksii
Also called Banks' grevillea
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, flowering
- July, flowering
- August, flowering
- September, flowering
- October, flowering
- November, flowering
- December, not flowering
Fast shrub or small tree with red or cream toothbrush flowers for much of the year.
A parent of many of the best-known garden grevilleas, including 'Robyn Gordon', 'Superb' and 'Moonlight'. It grows as an upright shrub or small tree, and a prostrate form is also sold. Red- and cream-flowered forms are both common.
In the garden
- Attracts
- Birds
- Flowers
- Red or cream toothbrush spikes, 8 to 12 cm long.
- Leaves
- Deeply divided leaves, grey-green above and silky underneath.
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Tropical, subtropical and temperate
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Sandy and loam
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Some dry spells
- Coast
- Sheltered coastal gardens
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed and cuttings
Planting
Full sun and good drainage, sheltered from heavy frost.
Pruning
Tip prune young plants and trim after flowering to keep it bushy.
Care
Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser, if any. Water through long dry spells in the first year.
Safety
The leaves and flowers can cause contact dermatitis. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Proteaceae
- Order
- Proteales
- Native to
- Queensland
- Natural range
- South-east Queensland, mainly around Brisbane.
Where to buy
Widely available.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Grevillea banksii on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.